Spinning toy



March 5 E. s. HOFFSTADT SPINNING TOY Filed Oct. 7, 1955 m m m m Edwin 6. Hoffsfadf ATTORNEYS SPINNING TOY Edwin G. Hofistadt, Palmyra, Mo., assignor of one-half to Willard A. Back, Chicago, Ill.

. Application October 7, 1955, Serial No. 539,175

6 Claims. 01. 46-47) This invention relates to childrens toys of the spinning type, and particularly to toys which are suspended from a flexible member in an unbalanced position so that the toy may be caused to spin by circular manipulations of the string.

The device of the present invention comprises, essentially, a small dumbbell-like member attached to a string at a point spaced from the center of gravity of the dumbbell. When freely suspended from the string, the dumbbell will not rotate about its center of gravity without manipulation of the suspending string. While the toy is simply made and is easily operated, a certain amount of skill and instruction is necessary for learning to spin it. Many tricks may be performed with the toy, so it provides a continuing entertainment for children, especially the young set.

Included among the objects and advantages of the present invention is to provide a simple toy which is easily operated and provides substantial periods of amusement for children. The toy includes a dumbbell portion with a string-like member attached thereto at a position spaced from the center of gravity of the dumbbell. The toy is simply made, and the bulbous portion of the dumbbell may be made in various sizes and shapes to suit particular occasions.

These and other objects and advantages may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustrations, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a dumbbell portion of the spinning toy of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled toy according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the toy of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the toy of the invention in operative position in the hand of a user.

The spinning toy illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a bar or handle 1 which joins a pair of balls 2 and 3. In one form, the balls are sponge rubber and the bar 1 is wooden or plastic. The bar is pushed into a hole 4 in ball 3, and a similar hole (not shown) in ball 2, forming a dumbbell-shaped member. A flexible, limber string 5 is attached to the dumbbell at the junction of ball 2 and bar 1. To securely hold the string to the dumbbell, a notch 6 is provided in one end of the bar 1, of a size to just permit the string to be pulled therein. With the string in the notch, the bar is pressed into the hole in the ball, forming a tight joint and securely anchoring the string in place.

In one very elfective form, a wooden bar about five inches is used to join two soft sponge rubber balls of about one and one quarter inches in diameter. These proportions provide an easily operated, elfective toy. It is preferable to maintain these approximate proportions for the best operating conditions. In other words, the length of the bar 1 should be adjusted in accordance with a change in diameter of the balls 2 and 3. Further, the balls should be of similar weight so as to have a 2,826,861 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 dumbbell with a center of gravity in the center of the bar, however, various odd and amusing efiects may be obtained by varying the weight or size of one of the balls. The balls and bar may be colored variously for creating various effects of the spinning toy.

In use, the string 5 of the toy is grasped, illustrated in Fig. 4, at a point spaced from the dumbbell, and by describing a circle with fingers and thumb holding the string, the dumbbell will start spinning about its lateral axis through the center of gravity, shown by the dashed.

line 7; A little practice soon permits the user to readily spin the dumbbell in a horizontal plane, in planes at an angle to horizontal, and with some skill in an almost vertical plane. In starting to spin it is generally easier to hold the string short, and after practice to use a long string. With still further practice, his not too difficult to spin two of the toys with one hand. As one acquires practice, numerous tricks may be performed.

In the modified device of Fig. 3, a pair of dice 10 and 11 are joined together by a bar 12. A string 14 is secured to the intersection 15 of the dice 11 and the bar 12. The dice 10 and 11 provide a variation to the bulbous heads of the dumbbell. The toy is used in a manner similar to that described for Fig. 3. The dice 10 and 11 are merely illustrative of countless shapes the heads of the dumbbell may take. The toy provides a novel advertising medium, or a souvenir of various functions. As a souvenir of a circus, for example, the balls 'may be made in the likeness of animal heads, clowns, etc. As a souvenir of a rodeo, the balls may be made in the likeness of horses heads or the like.

The dumbbell portion of the toy may be made of separate pieces, as described above, or it may be made as one piece, as for example, of molded plastic. The strings 5 and 14 may be any type of flexible, limber material, but it is preferable to use a live rubber band since it provides a diiierent and more articulated action from a nonelastic string. Further, the string may be attached in various ways to the device, for example, using a hole through the bar for tying the string through rather than the notch 6 of Fig. l. The position of attaching the string to the dumbbell must be at a point spaced from the center of gravity of the dumbbell so as to have an unbalanced device when suspended from the string. The intersection of the ball and the bar is one convenient position for assembly, which provides an interesting action.

While the invention has been described by reference to specific devices, there is no intent to limit the concept of the invention to the precise details so disclosed, except insofar as limited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy of the class described, comprising in combination; a dumbbell shaped member having a pair of substantially heavier than air bulbous members joined together by a relatively rigid elongated connecting member, the center of gravity of the dumbbell shaped member being disposed in said connecting member and spaced from each bulbous member a distance substantially greater than their maximum cross sectional dimension, and a string-like member having one end connected to said connecting member spaced from the center of gravity thereof, whereby manipulation of the free end of said string-like member causes a freely suspended dumbbell to rotate about its lateral axis through the center of gravity.

2. A toy according to claim 1 in which the string is attached to the dumbbell member at the junction of said connecting member and one of said bulbous members.

3. A toy according to claim 1 in which said bulbous members are of substantially equal weight.

4. A toy according to claim 1 in which said string is an elongated live rubber hand.

5. A toy of the class described comprising in combination, a dumbbell having a pair of spaced apart sponge rubber balls mounted, on a wooden bar of relatively small cross sectional dimensions, and a flexible string secured to said dumbbell by the frictional fit between said bar and one of said balls, the attachment of said string being spaced a substantial distance frornthe center of gravity of the dumbbell whereby manipulation of the free end of said string causes a freely suspended dumbbell to rotate about its lateral axis through the center of gravity.

6. A toy according to claim 5 in which the string is held in a notch in one end of the bar, the end of the bar being secured in one of said balls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilcox Dec. 16, 1890 Mead Mar. 22, 1898 Witten Mar. 4, 1924 Burgert Feb. 17, 1925 McGavin Oct. 13, 1931 Kuhn Dec. 10, 1946 Burroughs Jan. 5, 1954 

